“I told them I’d give ’em a surprise, and I did,” said Jerry. “I didn’t promise to make the auto turn a flip-flop, I only asked them if they ever saw it done. Well, I never did, either. I guess things are about evened up.”
The astonished cries of the cattlemen left no doubt but that Jerry’s trick to escape from them had been very much of a surprise.
“They didn’t intend any harm,” said Nestor. “I know the character of cowboys. They’re full of fun an’ thoughtless. It’s jest as well we got away, though. No tellin’ what damage they’d have done to the machine.”
The auto rolled along for several miles and the occupants were beginning to think of supper, which they planned to eat in a small town about three miles further on.
“What’s that?” asked Ned, pointing off to the left of the road. The others looked, and saw strolling over the prairie a peculiar figure.
It was that of a little man, wearing a big, flapping brimmed hat. The old fellow held a big butterfly net in his right hand, and a large, green box in the other. On his back was slung a bag. Every now and then the stranger would raise the net high in the air and bring it down with a swoop.
“That’s funny,” remarked Jerry.
“Looks to me like he was looney,” suggested Nestor.
Jerry brought the machine to a stop. The queer little man came nearer. His eyes were staring in front of him at something he seemed to desire to capture in the net. Whatever it was it continually escaped him.
At length the odd figure was close to the automobile. Yet the little man did not notice the car. Suddenly his eyes glanced at one of the big front tires. The boys looked and saw perched on the rubber a small, brown butterfly.